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Ex-Shin Bet Chief Sues Netanyahu for Defamation Over Oct. 7 Claims
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar filed a NIS 3 million defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, accusing him of a smear campaign to shift blame for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The lawsuit, filed in the Central District Court, responds to social media posts and public statements by Netanyahu accusing Bar of failures and crimes, including allegedly withholding intelligence on the night of the attack.
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What happened
- 01Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar sued Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for NIS 3 million over defamation regarding the October 7 failures.
- 02Bar claims he issued over twenty warnings to Netanyahu throughout 2023 about Hamas's growing strength and the erosion of Israeli deterrence.
- 03The lawsuit alleges Netanyahu repeatedly rejected recommendations to assassinate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, fearing personal retaliation.
- 04According to the lawsuit, Israeli officials proposed allowing Hamas to control Judea and Samaria during a July 2023 Security Cabinet meeting.
- 05Netanyahu countered by questioning why Bar did not use his direct secure line to contact him on the night of October 7.
- 06The lawsuit raises legal questions about whether Netanyahu's statements are protected by parliamentary or governmental immunity.
- 07Opposition leaders demanded Netanyahu's resignation and called for a state commission of inquiry after the lawsuit was filed.
In his lawsuit, Bar details a series of warnings he claims to have given Netanyahu throughout 2023 regarding Hamas's military buildup, Yahya Sinwar's messianic tendencies, and the erosion of Israeli deterrence. Bar alleges that Netanyahu rejected his recommendations, including plans to assassinate Sinwar, and instead pursued a policy of containment and calm. The lawsuit also claims that during a July 2023 Security Cabinet meeting, officials proposed allowing Hamas to control Judea and Samaria, which Bar says he rejected.
Netanyahu responded by questioning why Bar did not contact him directly on his secure line on the night of the attack if he had identified warning signs. Netanyahu has previously stated that Bar did not present him with specific warnings about Gaza and accused him of failing to alert emergency forces or evacuate the Nova music festival. Opposition leaders have demanded Netanyahu's resignation and the establishment of a state commission of inquiry following the filing of the lawsuit.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 14 newsrooms. Updated
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Ex-Shin Bet Chief Sues Netanyahu for Defamation Over Oct. 7 Claims
